After five years and 34 applications, we might have a grant problem...

[MrBasse]

So, we have always applied for grants. Every year we have applied for two, or four, or even up to 11 grants in one season. We have never been awarded any grant money other than through the State of Michigan's Department of Education grant (which if you turn in your paperwork on time and follow through on the requirements should almost be a gimme). We had gotten to the point where filling out grant applications was just kind of a fun exercise to see what the process entailed. We, or I guess I should say I, never had high hopes of receiving an award. However, this year we got two! After five years of trying, apparently number six is the lucky number. Perhaps it was dumb luck, or maybe when you throw enough applications at someone they start to feel bad for you. But that leads to the dilemma.

We were awarded a NASA Sustaining grant this year due to a loss of a primary sponsor from two seasons ago that is still holding us in a rough spot. However we also were awarded a grant from United Technologies Corporation through a newly acquired mentor that works for Pratt & Whitney in their local facility. So we have two grants that pay our registration fee in full. Seems like a rough problem to have, I know. Of all the problems I have run into in FIRST this is probably the most okay one ever.

The question is, do we have to accept one and decline the other? We have a closer connection to UTC through our mentor and pure proximity, their grant structure is awesome and will hopefully allow us to continue to build a relationship with a wonderful corporation. But on the other hand, NASA is NASA. I mean, how do you say "no thank you" to NASA for Pete's sake?

Is there a way to continue with both grants? I almost feel greedy doing that when I know another team could use that NASA Grant. But I also know that our funding is in a spot where this could potentially make or break our team for this year and then some (Muskegon isn't exactly an after school program funding haven).

I know that I can get a definite answer Monday morning direct from UTC or FIRST or NASA, but I thought I would get a feel for this before making that call.

Thoughts?